Breeder knowledge
Leatherback
Leatherbacks have reduced dorsal scalation, producing a smoother back and often making colour and pattern appear more visually prominent. The amount of scale reduction can vary.
In established breeder usage, Leatherback behaves as an incompletely dominant trait: one copy produces the Leatherback form.
Breeder knowledge
Silkback
Two copies produce the much more severely scale-reduced Silkback form. Silkbacks can have significant skin and welfare-management needs because normal protective scalation is greatly reduced.
This is more than an appearance difference. Anyone discussing the trait should acknowledge the welfare implications rather than treating Silkback as simply a rarer or more valuable version.
Evidence limit
Evidence status
The inheritance pattern is established through breeding records, but a complete peer-reviewed account of the causal mutation and its health consequences in Pogona vitticeps is still limited.